Tuesday, January 8, 2013

It is tempting to wade into the discussion about a
prominent individual disavowing the label Pagan. There is, however, significant
evidence that such decisions are commonplace within our community.

Over the last couple of years we have heard from T. Thorn
Coyle that she will no longer teach Feri Tradition courses, We have witnessed
this author (Peter Dybing) announce the decision to withdraw from Pagan
Leadership.

Well-known Witch M. Macha Nightmare eloquently announced
her resignation from Reclaiming tradition after decades of service. Ed Hubbard at Witch School International has given up his ministerial credentials and announced his intent
to step down as CEO of Witch School.

An incredible emerging Pagan Leader who founded Firefly
tradition has left religious life completely.

Couple with these events the reports of splits within
traditions and one can easily get the idea that the community if rife with
drama, conflict and tumultuous changes: well, not really, there is another explanation.

Pagans are known for their independence, their insistence
that each of us has a personal relationship with deity. We espouse the idea of independence in spiritual
practice. When the need to
manifest change in order to experience growth is obvious we, as Pagans, tend to
act decisively.

Each of these individuals have acted boldly and followed
their path with dedication to personal relationship with deity. Their actions are a great example of
why community fears of “Pagan Institutions” are groundless; our focus is not on
accruing power, or achieving popularity, but on personal growth. Sometimes that
means speaking our own truth, disengaging, even disappointing others.

Over the years as the ‘fire burns and the caldron bubbles’,
more Pagans will evolve, emerge, leave, step up and step down. They will inspire us and then move on
in the well-established tradition of seeking their own relationship with the
Goddess.

These changes are not a cause for concern, but an
opportunity to celebrate the unique character of our community. Self-empowerment,
reclaiming, personal relationship with the divine, these are not small concepts;
they are foundations of our beliefs. They also drive me to congratulate those
making changes along the path and wish them well; no drama needed.